This came from USA. I suppose there is a reasonable opinion there that some of the names commemorate people who or places that are probably not deserving of
the honour. I don’t know enough about Australian situation to know if that is well argued here. Is there any reason not to commemorate Mr & Mrs Gould in Australia with the petrel and the finch? Surely though some of the people so commemorated just held particular
positions without being deserving. What annoys me is seeing technical writing, used in USA, where species names are given in lower case but when the species English name is given for a person, the first letter is given in upper case (e.g. Cooper’s hawk & tree
sparrow). A recent book I read had that throughout and it looks especially stupid because it sort of suggests that some species “are more equal than others”. Having written that, I think Mark’s Q is perfectly valid. Surely we have much higher priorities than
this, in Australian ornithology. And yes it will get awkward and confusing and might generate redoing of books. Besides what is the big point of this, when there are surely a lot more scientific names given to commemorate a person than there are common names.
I prefer Pink Cockatoo, it is so much simpler.
Philip
From: Canberrabirds [
On Behalf Of Mark Clayton via Canberrabirds
Sent: Sunday, 4 February, 2024 7:43 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb; 'David McDonald (Personal)'; 'Canberrabirds list'
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Help!
Why all this sudden decision to change all the names where people are concerned? It is going to get very messy in the long run and to me a complete waste of time!!
Mark
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From:
Sent: Sunday, 4 February 2024 6:57 PM
To: ;
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Help!
Thanks David. The draft ‘consultation plan’ seems very process-heavy. It does entail consulting Birdlife Australia branches, among others. I am no longer a formal participant in the coming project.
The adopted subspecies name that Birdlife is very proud of is ‘Mukarrthippi Grasswren’ (a made-up name) for the nominate subspecies of Striated Grasswren - very few remaining in limited range, Yathong area. The other name that has crept
into use is ‘Kyloring’ for western subspecies of Ground Parrot..
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of David McDonald (Personal)
Sent: Sunday, February 4, 2024 6:35 PM
To: Canberrabirds list <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Help!
Thanks Geoffrey. I agree, await more info from BLA.
That said, I find it irritating that, despite their promise to consult with the community, Birdlife Aust has unilaterally started changing English names. The much-discussed Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo they have reverted to the Pink Cockatoo,
contrary to WLAB 4.3:
https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/pink-cockatoo/ . And somewhere in their material a species had been given an Aboriginal name – can’t find it at present at a quick search.
Best wishes – David
Yes, I think I have mentioned the parallel Australian initiative. There’ve been some developments in the ongoing process, but perhaps best to wait for the formal Birdlife Australia announcement. Oddly, Martin, Birdlife Australia believes
they are actually ‘helping’ matters. I am probably guilty of understatement when I say this will depend on your point of view. Jack the Ripper probably thought he was helping, in his own way.
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Martin Butterfield via Canberrabirds
Sent: Sunday, February 4, 2024 7:34 AM
To: cog chatline <>
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Help!
https://mallacootaweatherwildlife.blogspot.com/
